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Posted Apr 4, 2006 by Alex Vila
Updated Apr 4, 2006 at 02:34 AM
They came into the season unranked, and thanks to multiple early player defections, essentially unknown. But clearly there was something special about the 2005-06 Florida Gators, who started the season 17-0 and finished it just as emphatically, polishing off UCLA to win the first national title in school history.
Did you see it coming all along? Was it a case of addition by subtraction? What memories of this incredible season will with you?
Share with us your feelings about the historic last few months for Florida basketball.
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Reader Comments
Por (Colleen Park) on April 04, 2006 (Suggest removal)
I have been studying in Spain since January. The game started at 3:30 am and we had to pay a bartender to stay open for us. At 6 am she bought us all shots! I am so proud of the boys! GO GATORS!!!!!
Suggest removalPor (Kenneth R. Cheek) on April 04, 2006 (Suggest removal)
Go Gators and way to keep it cool G’ville.
Suggest removalPor (Edward Fernandez) on April 04, 2006 (Suggest removal)
Gators would never have achieved this if Roberson and Walsh had stayed !!!!!!
Suggest removalGo Gators
Por (Jenny Weigle) on April 04, 2006 (Suggest removal)
The Gator Nation is strong in Tampa, and it was great to be surrounded with fellow alumni and fans during the game. GO GATORS! Don’t forget to check www.tampagatorclub.com for more UF events happening locally!
Suggest removalPor (Jackie Williams) on April 04, 2006 (Suggest removal)
The only thing that could have made this sweeter, is if I was in G’ville to celebrate with all the other Gators.
Suggest removalGreat job guys!! All us alumni are very proud of you!
Por (Wallace Sterling) on April 04, 2006 (Suggest removal)
Indeed, it is great to be a Florida Gator. How proud I am as a UF grad of Coach Billy Donovan and the Men’s Basketball team, now the 2006 National Champions—the first national champion in the state of Florida. No longer is UF just a “football school”; what with achievements in basketball, tennis, swimming, baseball, track and field, soccer, and golf, UF has a strong multi-faceted athletic program. Kudos to Jeremy Foley, the entire athletic staff and the UF Administration. GO GATORS!
Suggest removalPor (Cara Do') on April 04, 2006 (Suggest removal)
Go Gators!!!!!!
Suggest removalWe love You!!
Por (Jake English) on April 04, 2006 (Suggest removal)
I can remember in 1996 when Florida won its football championship. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined such a thing back in ‘96. As for basketball, outside of Norm Sloan, Dwayne Schintzius, and Vernon Maxwell, in 1996, I didn’t even know Florida had a basketball team…::cough cough:: What a phenomenal job Donovan has done. Hard work, persistance, FAITH, and PATIENCE definitely pay off. All prerequisites for being a Gator fan. GO GATORS.
Suggest removalPor (Lisa Marohnic) on April 04, 2006 (Suggest removal)
Awesome job, Gators! Way to work as a team and put 100% of your hearts into every minute of the game! You guys are a class act - I’m so proud I could just burst! Thanks Coach Donovan for your incredible leadership and for one of the best pre-game motivational speeches ever given. Once again, it’s the year of the GATOR!
Suggest removalPor (Patty Crespo) on April 04, 2006 (Suggest removal)
Incredible game! Even better teamwork! This is how the game should be played…..as a TEAM!!
GO GATORS!!!!!!!!!
Suggest removalGATOR NATION!!!!
Por (louis rodriguez) on April 04, 2006 (Suggest removal)
i just want to say congratulations to billy donovan and the whole florida gator athletic program , incredible patience , even through the doubts you kept your poise and faith . team basketball , who would have ever thought that concept existed till monday nite. you guys are awsome !
Suggest removalPor (Matthew J. Browning) on April 04, 2006 (Suggest removal)
UNREAL!!
The Gators scortched bracketville to the ground!! AWESOME BABY!!
6 years to the day, UF lost to MSU 89-76 in the title game. Last night Billy “The King” Donovan exorcised the demons that haunted him.
Hey Billy! I’m glad turned down Coach Pitno’s original advice to remain on Wall Street. CONGRATS to you for taking a big risk—-now you’re living the Dream! I wish I had your courage and focus! Keep up the great work you’re truly an inspiration to all!!
GO GATORS!! Class of 1990
Suggest removalPor (Tina Francisco) on April 04, 2006 (Suggest removal)
GO GATORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Suggest removalPor (Bill Goldman) on April 04, 2006 (Suggest removal)
I Couldn’t be Happier.I’m an Alumnus,Class of 1963..Maybe now Florida won’t be thought of Only as a Football University. Its a Well Rounded Educational University that happens to have Great Football and Basketball Teams.
Suggest removalA Pround Gator.
Por (J. sanz) on April 05, 2006 (Suggest removal)
If your not a Gator, then you must be Gator bait! Way to go Billy D. and the “kids”. Awesome Baby!
Suggest removalPor (Paula Jordan) on April 05, 2006 (Suggest removal)
I just want to say, “WAY TO PLAY - WHAT A TEAM, and COACH”!!! I also want to thank all of you for being such classy guys. I took my son (15) to watch you guys on Jan. 3rd as a belated Christmas present. He was so thrilled. After the game all of you signed his poster for him and really treated him like he was special. It is great to see you treating your fans like they mean something to you!!! We couldn’t be happier for you and look forward to next year!!!
Suggest removalLOVE THE GATORS!!!
Por (Trang Vu) on April 05, 2006 (Suggest removal)
Congratulations to Billy Donovan and the Gator Boys! You make us all proud to be the Florida Gators. Cheers from the Rocky Mountain Gator Club.
Suggest removalPor (Tracy Toler) on April 05, 2006 (Suggest removal)
I have watched or listened to every game this entire season from the beginning of the year’s tournaments and I saw then that they had a very special group of guys that you could instantly see how they worked so well together. I have been a long standing “Gator” fan for many years, my son is in his 2nd year at Florida and I am very proud to be a “Gator Mom”!!!
Suggest removalPor (Elle McHone) on April 05, 2006 (Suggest removal)
This pony-tailed tower of a young man was what drew me to watch the games. Of course I wanted him and his team to win the Championship. It’s their time and I believe it was NOAH’s time!
Suggest removalHe’s very entertaining, very talented and very attractive on the court. Congratulations Gators!
Por (Brian Coffin) on April 06, 2006 (Suggest removal)
The Gators had a truly great run and showed that good teamwork trumps a group of individual stars. When one guy was off on a particular night someone else picked them up. I’m so happy for Billy, the boys, UF, and the state of Florida. GO GATORS. CO 80
Suggest removalPor (Darrell Brinkley) on April 09, 2006 (Suggest removal)
I am a DIE-HARD gator fan Born and raised in Florida serving the navy in Norfolk, so i have to give a SHOUT OUT to the boys from the U of F FIGHTING Gators. Everyone i work with said they had NO chance and i laughed. Gators lay wait and then grab there prey and hold on to it like the basketball time WAY TO go Mr. Donovan. Keep the FIRE going GO GATORS
Suggest removalPor (Bil Welch Sr.) on April 10, 2006 (Suggest removal)
To have lived to see my alma mater bring home to two most coveted titles in all of college sports in football and now basketball..wow..and the boys are all coming back next year??..what delicious icing on an already sumptuous feast for the Gator Nation..It is and always will be truly great to be a Florida Gator!!
Suggest removalPor (Al Dube) on April 11, 2006 (Suggest removal)
This is just so awesome.I was born a GATOR in 1948 and was born and raised in Jacksonville.I just LOVE my GATORS.Way to go Coach Donovan and all the GATORS.Not only are they the 2006 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS but are still the SEC CHAMPIONS AGAIN.
Suggest removalHow much better can we have it all, GATORS.I LOVE IT for my GATORS.I’ll never forget this for the rest of my life.CONGRATULATIONS AND GO GATORS FOREVER.WE IT GATORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Por (Al Dube) on April 11, 2006 (Suggest removal)
This is just so awesome.I was born a GATOR in 1948 and was born and raised in Jacksonville.I just LOVE my GATORS.Way to go Coach Donovan and all the GATORS.Not only are they the 2006 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS but are still the SEC CHAMPIONS AGAIN.
Suggest removalHow much better can we have it all, GATORS.I LOVE IT for my GATORS.I’ll never forget this for the rest of my life.CONGRATULATIONS AND GO GATORS FOREVER.WE IT GATORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Por (Jackson L Murphy) on April 17, 2006 (Suggest removal)
Truly amazing accomplishment Gators!! Gator Nation (including 300,000+ alumni worldwide) is so very proud of you.
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